Samsung is already the world's top seller of smartphones, and now it hopes to pad its lead. The tech giant will introduce the Samsung Galaxy S4 Thursday, and among the cool -- but creepy -- features we expect to see is a screen control system that works by tracking the motion of your eyes.

Stock markets traded cautiously on Wednesday ahead of a U.S. vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit temporarily. The House is set to vote on a motion to increase the nation's $16.4 trillion borrowing ceiling for three months.

U.S. stocks fell Tuesday as traders awaited the start of the corporate earnings season. Market-watchers expect the quarter's results could include many surprises because of events like Superstorm Sandy, the presidential election, and the narrowly avoided "fiscal cliff."

Struggling beauty products seller Avon said late Tuesday it will cut about 1,500 jobs and exit the South Korea and Vietnam markets. The job cuts amount to almost 4 percent of its workforce and are one of the first major moves by CEO Sheri McCoy, who in April replaced longtime CEO Andrea Jung.

Fear that congressional Republicans and President Obama will fail to steer the United States away from the fiscal cliff before a January deadline sent world stock markets lower on Wednesday. Britain's FTSE, Germany's DAX, Japan's Nikkei and France's CAC-40 all fell, and on Wall Street, both the Dow and the S&P 500 opened lower.

A Dutch court has again ruled against Apple in a suit against South Korea's Samsung Electronics, saying that Galaxy tablets don't infringe an Apple patent on touchscreen interfaces. The Dutch case is one of many Apple is pursuing against Samsung in their reciprocal patent war.

Stock markets in Europe traded in fairly narrow ranges Monday as Germany's leader warned that Greece may not get its next batch of bailout cash. Chinese shares surged after authorities pledged to increase bank lending to entrepreneurs. Europe's stumbling efforts to get a handle on its debt crisis remains the focus of interest in the markets.

Two weeks ago, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il died and his son, Kim Jong-Un, took power. South Korea's stocks and currency fell sharply on the news -- which creates opportunities for long-term investors.

Perhaps the most surprising recent news in the auto industry last week was this little gem. In large part owing to President Obama's negotiation of a free trade agreement with South Korea earlier this year, Toyota will be expanding exports of U.S.-built vehicles to Korea for sale.

The White House is threatening to hold up final passage of three coveted free trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia unless lawmakers expand retraining assistance for American workers who lose their jobs because of foreign competition.

Despite tepid industry sales last year, sister South Korean carmakers Hyundai and Kia set sales records, thanks to savvy designs and sophisticated engineering. They've come a long way from their early econo-box image. Now, if they could just do as well at home.

The American beef market as rebounded since the dark days of 2003, when a cow found with "mad cow disease" virtually shut down U.S. beef and pork exports. Industry officials say 2010 was the best year on record for U.S. beef exports.

Economic news out of China, South Korea, Europe and the rest of the world can have unpredictable consequences for U.S. stocks. But in this short video, Fund manager James Altucher says our economy can handle the ups and downs and explains why stocks will do well in 2011.

South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are combined recalling about 9,500 vehicles to repair a brake component that may cause brake fluid to leak, impairing braking ability, according to federal safety officials.

Temporary workers at a Hyundai Motor manufacturing plant in South Korea reportedly have agreed to end a near-monthlong strike that was inhibiting domestic production of subcompact cars, such as the Hyundai Accent.

Since the mad cow scare of 2003, South Korea has been a tough market for U.S. beef: The country first banned it, then severely limited imports. But a pending new Free Trade Agreement could mark the resumption of normal trade, and the start of a more prosperous era for American beef exports.

There's no obvious end in sight to the tension between North and South Korea that recently rattled world markets. But Kim Jong-il may have embarrassed his patrons in Beijing too much this time, and pushed his neighbors to the south too far. Could real change be coming to the Korean Peninsula?

North Korea's unprovoked artillery attack this week on the sparsely populated South Korean island of Yeonpyeong put a scare into the international community. What's even more frightening is contemplating the despotic regime's next step.